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Chandra Shekhar

officers of the state and the Nawab's personal attendants, came there in all haste—one of them ran towards Kulsam and, but for the Nawab, would have lifted her up by the hair; the Nawab was taken aback and so, he forbade the man to molest her. Kulsam then said,

"It is good that you all have come here—I will now unfold to you a thrilling story. The Nawab will immediately order my death—no body will come to know of the story, if I do not relate it to you before my death; so, you all listen to me. There is a foolish ruler of Bengal and Behar, named Mir Kashim. He had a Begum whose name was Dalani—she was the sister of the Nawab's commander-in-chief, Gurgan Khan."

Hearing this, no one again meddled with Kulsam—all who were present there, began to look at each other's face, in surprise—a feeling of curiosity was roused in them. The Nawab too remained silent—Kulsam, in continuing her story, said,

"Gurgan Khan and Daulatunnesa left together Ispahan and came to Bengal to earn their livelihood. When Dalani entered Mir Kashim's palace, as a slave girl, both the brother and the sister promised to help each other up."

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